Point Pleasant Beach
Exit N-88 | S-98
Vibe: Family-friendly destination, with lively boardwalk amusement rides, arcades, mini-golf and ample ice cream joints.
What’s New: The Kite Rider zip-line attraction on Jenkinson’s Boardwalk. The South Beach Arcade introduced the Dark Ride, an interactive ride, last summer.
What’s Not: The Mariner Cove Motor Inn was lost to a deadly fire last year.
Don’t Miss: Jenkinson’s Aquarium (Aquarium Explorer’s Camp Tues-Thu July 7-August 27 for ages 5-10); Hoffman’s Ice Cream; Patio Bar at Jack Baker’s Wharfside.
Beach Fee: Daily, $8.50; kids 5-11, $2.50. Weekends and holidays, $9.50. Season, $90 full, $65 half; ages 5-11, $45; ages 5-11, $45 full, $35 half; seniors, $65.
Parking: Free or metered, on street and in private lots.
Bay Head
Exit N-90 | S-98
Vibe: With no public restrooms on the beach, upscale Bay Head is predominantly a destination for homeowners and seasonal renters.
What’s New: Local favorites like Mueller’s Bakery and the Jolly Tar gift shop have been renovated and will be open for the summer. Many new homes have been built post-Sandy and familiar shops replaced with real estate and architectural offices.
What’s Not: Sandy claimed the Shopper’s Wharf. It could return for shopping or dining in the next few years.
Beach Fee: Daily, $8; 11 and under, free. Season (before June 14), $80.
Parking: Limited on street, free.
Mantoloking
Exit N-82 | S-98
Vibe: Wealthy residential community still smarting from the loss of more than 100 properties during Sandy.
What’s New: Mantoloking was Sandy’s Ground Zero. All of the destroyed oceanfront properties have been demolished and the debris hauled away. Construction continues.
What’s Not: Many of the huge oceanfront lots remain vacant.
Beach Fee: Daily, $8; 11 and under, free. Season, $80.
Parking: Limited on street, free.
Dover Beaches North
Exit N-82 | S-98
Vibe: A narrow stretch along Route 35 (mostly part of Toms River) that includes the Ocean Beaches, Chadwick Beach, Chadwick Island, Seacrest Beach, Monterey Beach, Silver Beach, Normandy Shores and half of Normandy Beach.
What’s New: Restaurants in the area—including Lasolas Market (Normandy Beach), Labrador Lounge (Normandy Beach) and Il Giardinello (Toms River)—have reopened in the last year.
What’s Not: Dover Beaches North (aka the Northern Beaches) saw a 50-60 percent drop in rental inventory post-Sandy. Construction is booming, but affordable, bungalow-style rentals are expected to be in short supply.
Beach Fee: Varies from beach to beach.
Parking: Limited free on street.
Lavallette
Exit 82
Vibe: Lavallette is the quintessentially quiet Shore town, with a yacht club, shops and restaurants.
What’s New: Lavallette’s boardwalk was rebuilt with a number of beach entrances.
What’s Not: Construction continues throughout the town, where an estimated 75 percent of homes were affected by Sandy.
Don’t Miss: Annual Sand Castle Contest (July 10); Lavallette Beach Patrol William Kemble Lifeguard Tournament (July 13); Recreation Skim Boarding Competition (July 31); and Lavallette Founders Day with local vendors, live music and activities for kids (September 12); Lenny’s Pizza.
Beach Fee: Daily, $8; under 12, free. Weekly, $25. Season, $45 ($35 before June 15); seniors (65+), active military or veterans, $14.
Parking: Season, $10; limited street parking, free.
Ortley Beach
Exit 82
Vibe: A summer retreat for families who bike to the beach and keep coming back, year after year. Sandy left significant damage. Reconstruction is ongoing.
What’s New: The face of Ortley Beach is changing post-Sandy with many of its modest bungalows being replaced by larger, raised homes.
What’s Not: Joey Harrison’s Surf Club has permanently closed.
Don’t miss: The cluster of restaurants on Route 35, including Barnacle Bill’s, Papa Grande Grill, Sunny Hunny by the Sea (for pancakes) and Rockafella’s by the Sea.
Beach Fee: Daily, $4; weekends and holidays, $5; under 12 and seniors (62+), free. Weekly, $15. Seasonal, $40 full, $25 half.
Parking: Limited street parking along the boardwalk, free. Public pay-to-park lots at the end of 3rd Avenue and between 6th and 7th Avenues in front of the Surf Club.
Seaside Heights
Exit 82
Vibe: Family-friendly arcades meet youth-oriented nightlife scene.
What’s New: Casino Pier welcomes new rides, including the Air Race and the restored Musik Express.
What’s Not: The pier’s upper deck and its Jet Star roller coaster, famously photographed rising from the post-Sandy surf, are still missing in action.
Don’t Miss: Maruca’s Tomato Pies (newly relocated from Seaside Park to JR’s Ocean Bar & Grill on the boardwalk); Club Karma (of Jersey Shore fame); Hemingway’s Café; Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road Stopover Tour (June 5-6); Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza.
Beach Fee: Daily, $6; 11 and under, free. Season, $50; seniors (65+) lifetime badge, $10. Active military and veterans, free. Bay Beach is free every day.
Parking: Metered and private lots. Meters range from $1-$2/hour depending on the location.
Seaside Park
Exit 82
Vibe: A close neighbor to Seaside Heights.
What’s New: Funtown Pier and the newly rebuilt boardwalk were gutted in an electrical fire last September. The planning board has not made any final decisions about the pier’s future.
What’s Not: With the fire damage, the Seaside Park boardwalk no longer connects with the Heights. More than 50 businesses and dozens of rides were affected by the fire.
Beach Fee: Daily, $10; under 11, free. Weekly, $35. Season, $60 ($55 before June 22); seniors (65+), $20.
Parking: Metered parking along Ocean Avenue; free parking along side streets. Municipal lots with park-and-pay kiosks.
Island Beach State Park
Exit 82
Vibe: This narrow finger between the Atlantic and Barnegat Bay is one of Jersey’s last stretches of untouched oceanfront. The place to go for nature and solitude.
What’s New: All lifeguard stands, fences and boardwalks were rebuilt and updated after Sandy. Expanded interpretive and educational programs.
Don’t Miss: 10 miles of undeveloped beachfront, bike paths and fishing.
Beach Fee: Free, entrance is charged per vehicle from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Parking: Daily, $6; weekends, $10; motorcycles, $7. Walk-in entrance at Fisherman’s Walkway, $3.
Long Beach Island
Exit 63
Barnegat Light
Don’t Miss: Barnegat Lighthouse; Mustache Bill’s Diner; Viking Village; annual Jazzy Scallop and Seafood Festival (June 27).
Beach Fee: Daily, $5; 11 and under, free. Weekly, $20. Season, $35 ($25 before June 14); seniors (65+), $20.
Parking: Free.
Harvey Cedars
Don’t Miss: Plantation Restaurant; Craft Day by the Bay (July 4); Wednesday night live music in Sunset Park (starting July 8); 28th Annual Art Festival (July 20).
Beach Fee: Daily, $6. Weekly, $20. 11 and under, free. Season, $40 ($30 before June 15); seniors (65+), $9.
Parking: Free.
Surf City
Don’t Miss: Surf City Island Golf, Yellow Fin restaurant.
Beach Fee: Daily, $7; 11 and under and seniors (65+), free. Weekly, $17. Season, $35 ($25 before May 31).
Parking: Free.
Ship Bottom
Don’t Miss: The Arlington, a new restaurant with extensive craft beer list; concerts by the bay in Waterfront Park (free); Original Ron Jon Surf Shop.
Beach Fee: Daily, $7. Weekly, $20. Season, $40 ($30 before May 31); seniors, $10.
Parking: Free.
Long Beach Township
Don’t Miss: Daddy O (Brant Beach); Tuesday night concerts in Bayview Park; LBI Freedom Fest (July 4th Weekend).
Beach Fee: Daily, $5; 11 and under and veterans, free. Weekly, $20. Season, $40 ($30 before June 15); seniors, $5.
Parking: Free.
Beach Haven
Don’t Miss: POPularity, a new gourmet popsicle shop; Fantasy Island; Thundering Surf Water Park; Chicken or the Egg; Buckalew’s Tavern; Hop Sauce Festival (May 30).
Beach Fee: Daily, $5; 12 and under and seniors (65+), free. Weekly, $20. Season, $40 ($30 before June 15). Free beach day every Wednesday July through August to celebrate the township’s 125th anniversary!
Parking: Free.
Monmouth County Beaches.
Atlantic County Beaches.
Cape May County Beaches.
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